ALBERTA NEWS Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40050628 Volume 31, No. 8 Calgary Edition September 8, 2020 Cover art: Pomegranate Trio, © Nina Bonos, 2020. Watercolor. www.ninabonos.com Reprinted with permission. See story on page 3. Page 2 Alberta Jewish News September, 2020 High Holidays in the Time of COVID-19: A Kehila Saga By Kehilat Shalom Calgary Rebecca Levant z”l in 2019, Kehilat Shalom has hosted guest cantors for the High Throughout recent months, Kehilat Shalom Calgary’s Holidays. This year, Kehilat Board members, lay leaders, and rabbi have dedicated Shalom is bringing in themselves to one overarching goal: conducting in-person Cantor Emeritus Cory High Holiday services. Winter of California (see “The High Holidays are an exceptional time for Jewish Alberta Jewish News, people to reconnect with their community,” explains Rabbi August 10, 2020). Leonard Cohen. “For so many, the religious highlight of Bruno Kahane, past the year is hearing the Shofar, or praying Yizkor for loved president of Kehilat ones, or even reaching the end of the Yom Kippur fast at Shalom, says, “The amazing Ne’ilah. So we wanted to make that happen.” He says that voice that this Cantor has – the Kehila’s goal was to make High Holiday services both it’s a must-see. Plus he’s safe and inspiring. got such deep knowledge The congregation has implemented significant changes. of everything Jewish.” Prayer services have been relocated to a large gymnasium Kahane collaborated with to permit social distancing, with open doors for freer air lawyer David Wolfman to circulation. Congregational singing and dialogue are ensure compliance with all Photo by Elias Punch) subdued by the facemasks worn by all. Services are laws, safety considerations shortened, and communal eating and drinking are and documentation to make suspended, to ensure collective protection. Safety remains it possible to bring the cantor in from the USA. Leslie Levant adds that the need for social reconnection paramount. Cantor Winter has had to commit himself to a is exceptionally important this year: "Because of COVID, In spite of these changes, Kehila services remain lively fourteen-day quarantine upon arrival to Canada, prior to many people feel, and are, isolated. It is a wonderful thing and warm. “We’ve been doing Shabbat together in person High Holidays. The congregation has been delivering food to be together in prayer and have the opportunity to see for the past six weeks,” says congregational president and groceries to his door, and renting him the musical our fellow congregants and visitors at shul and have some Sam Fishman, “and things have been going so well. equipment he needs in preparation for this year’s services. social connection with them. It is a comfort to sing Those coming to our High Holidays will see they’re in a Cantor Winter is also a composer and will be creating new traditional songs, hear a well prepared sermon and be safe surrounding.” Facemasks, water bottles, hand works during his quarantine period. together. I look forward to greeting everyone at the sanitizer and sanitizing wipes are readily available for upcoming High Holidays." anyone who needs them. Countering the Isolation High Holiday services bring together more members of The Rabbi and Board of Kehilat Shalom Calgary look The Quarantined Cantor the Jewish community than any other annual event. forward to seeing you at High Holiday services and Part of what makes High Holidays services exceptional The observance of the Jewish New Year provides a sharing this highlight of the religious calendar with you is the liturgical music, as the chanting of such prayers welcome opportunity for many to reconnect with friends and your loved ones. For more information, email as Kol Nidre and Avinu Malkeinu is meant to stir and acquaintances. [email protected] or visit www.kscalgary.org. hearts and awaken souls. Since the passing of cantor (JTA) — In a diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are Israel normalizes ties normalizing ties. As part of a peace deal brokered by President Donald Trump, Israel will pause its plans with United Arab Emirates to annex areas of the West Bank, according to a joint statement released Thursday by the White House. “Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world. The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that Continued on page 8 Like us at / Alberta Jewish News Hazaan Cory Rabbi Winter Leonard Cohen Erev Rosh Hashanah Friday Sept. 18, 2020 Rosh Hashanah Sat - Sun Sept. 19-20, 2020 Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Sept. 27, 2020 Yom Kippur Monday Sept. 28, 2020 Special High Holidays admission & 1 yr. membership rates: Adults $600 Children Under 18 free For Membership assistance contact Sam Fishman: Phone: 403-613-1848 Services will be held at E-mail: [email protected] Calgary JCC Web: www.kscalgary.org 1607 - 90 Ave SW September, 2020 Alberta Jewish News Page 3 Our cover artist: Nina Bonos The beautiful image on this month’s cover of Alberta and destinations for my memories, everyday Jewish News is by Nina Bonos, an award-winning, Judaica experiences and dreams.” artist who creates vivid watercolor paintings of joyous Nina's Joyous Judaica images adorn and add natural landscape elements. distinction to synagogues and other Jewish With a rich palette of jewel tone colors, Nina's bold gathering places; professional office spaces and compositions explore traditional and modern Jewish residences across the US and Canada. Her fine art themes and symbols. Pomegranate Trio is a detail from a originals are adapted as fine art prints and note Torah mantle illustration Nina created for her Santa Rosa, cards; logos, donor appreciation and life cycle gifts; CA synagogue. This image was also adapted for a torah Torah mantles, synagogue banners, large-scale mantle designed for Congregation Beth Israel in wall art, etched glass; and home accessories. Vancouver, BC. Nina's Joyous Judaica collection is available at “My hands, heart and soul capture my artistic vision,” select Judaica shops and galleries, and on her explains Nina. “My Judaica paintings express my life website at www.ninabonos.com journey and family history as developed through decades Art and Scroll Studio, a zoominar series of meditation and prayer. Creating art both calms and dedicated to promoting and interviewing artists, spiritually energizes me. Mixing colors and creating bold creators and makers of Judaica will be featuring Detail from Pomegranate Torah Mantle, © Nina Bonos. compositions enables me to feel the Divine presence while a conversation with Nina Bonos about what cultivating gratitude and vision. My paintings tell stories informs and inspires her work on October 7, 2020 Contact [email protected] to register. documenting the passage of time, and provide the setting at 7:00 pm. Potasznik is clearly excited by the dynamic process of Calgary Beth Tzedec welcomes engaging with multiple interpretations of Jewish texts and seeing what else he and the youth he leads can come up Youth Engagement Director with. “I’m very excited to meet the congregation and get By Maxine Fischbein new ways to move themselves into a more spiritual prayer started,” Potasznik said. space. As the High Holidays approach, Potasznik’s top priority Calgary Beth Tzedec congregants can look forward to The ultimate goal, says Potasznik, is for participants to is planning engaging, family-friendly youth services that some exciting developments on the youth front with the take their experiences with them into their lives, rather will be held each afternoon during Rosh Hashanah and recent hiring of Jonah Potasznik as the Synagogue’s part- than leaving them behind in the Synagogue. Yom Kippur. Families who preregister to attend services time Youth Engagement Director and Ritual Assistant. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Potasznik onsite will be able to meet Potasznik in person; those who choose to stay home can enjoy a virtual, live-streamed “It is all about building relationships,” says Potasznik, most recently served as Judaics teacher to students in the 5th and 6th Grades at the Hebrew Foundation School in encounter with both Potasznik and Cantor Russell Jayne, who is excited about the prospect of linking Synagogue who will co-lead the youth services. youth with each other and with the congregation of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC. Calgary’s largest shul through immersive Jewish While earning his Master’s Degree in Jewish Education Jonah Potasznik comes to Beth Tzedec with outstanding experiences. at the Hebrew College Shoolman Graduate School of experience in formal and informal Jewish education Education in Newton, MA, Potasznik studied for three having served as Regional Director of BBYO in the Greater “Bringing Jewish text and wisdom alive in the lives of Washington, DC area and as Judaic Educator for BBYO young people brings me great joy. I enjoy bringing years in the Beit Hamidrash at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. Summer Programs in Bethany, West Virginia. everyone into that process,” Potasznik said. He also has all-important experience in the most “A big part of the Pardes experience is the assumption Potasznik is equally devoted to creating comfortable immersive of all Jewish youth experiences – summer camp that our ancient texts have something to say to people prayer experiences for youth – and for congregants in – having served as Director of Jewish Life and Learning at living in modern times,” says Potasznik who adds that general – through a combination of activities that combine Surprise Lake Camp in Cold Spring, NY. while it might seem counterintuitive, this received wisdom traditional modes of prayer with new techniques that help Continued on page 6 individuals to slow down, using their bodies and minds in “has a lot to say about how to live well in 2020.” For more information, or to join our congregation, please contact us in Calgary at 403-255-8688 or [email protected].